best snacks for the act

by

kristin fracchia

on

in

6 perfect snacks for the act exam

in this episode of tuesdact, we’re talking about the most enjoyable part of taking the act: the food. sadly, there’s not some unlimited pancake buffet offered at the break, and you’ll have to pack your snacks from home, but that clif bar is going to taste like a dream when you’re tired and hungry. promise!

here are my choices for the best snacks for optimal test performance:

  1. energy bar or trail mix: nuts and seeds have omega-3 fatty acids, which help improve cognitive function and prevent fatigue. the sugars in dried fruit provide quick energy for launching into the next section!
  2. sliced apples and peanut butter: the protein and fiber will fill you up.
  3. banana: easy to eat fast and the fiber will help you feel full.
  4. cinnamon gum: may not satiate those hunger cravings, but did you know that cinnamon helps make you alert and improve mental processing? studies have shown that chewing a piece of gum while testing can help improve performance.
  5. beef jerky: high in protein, which, again, will help prevent a crash.
  6. water: not exactly a snack, but dehydration can make you tired and foggy, so it’s essential that you have a bottle at your desk. pro tip: add some electrolyte tabs for an added boost.

worst snacks for the act exam

  1. soda
  2. candy
  3. coffee, energy drinks, or 5-hour energy unless it’s part of your daily routine (you sure don’t need those jitters or extra bathroom breaks)

author

  • kristin fracchia

    dr. kristin fracchia has over fifteen years of expertise in college and graduate school admissions and with a variety of standardized tests, including the act, sat, gre, gmat, and lsat, with several 99% scores. she had a phd from the university of california, irvine, an ma degree from the catholic university, and ba degrees in secondary education and english literature from the university of maryland, college park. she was the recipient of the 2013 excellence in teaching award and the chancellor’s club fellowship from the university of california, irvine. she’s worked as a high school teacher and university professor, as an independent college and graduate school admissions counselor, and as an expert tutor for standardized tests, helping hundreds of students gain acceptance into premier national and international institutions. she now develops accessible and effective edtech products for magoosh. her free online content and youtube videos providing test prep and college admissions advice have received over 6 million views in over 125 countries. kristin is an advocate for improving access to education: you can check out her tedx talk on the topic. follow kristin on linkedin!

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